Yuku free message boards

Thanks, Kasey!

Laurie

I have to say that I always liked "Bumbarash," but it's really grown on me as a solo number. It's so very Russian that it doesn't speak to me the way "Parisienne Walkways" or "Overcome" does, but Alexei invests so much of himself in this number - it's clearly to me his own personal favorite of the numbers he's doing - that he brings it alive, and, I think, makes it universally appealing even if we didn't really know the music or know the story in advance. My only whine is that while I know the costume is very authentic - and the flip-up shirt is a nice touch (cough) - it's just not one of my favorite costumes. I prefer costumes that are either classically elegant or sexy - one of the two.

More from White Crow...

Arntgolts/Staviski
http://www.youtube.com/wa...Q_nI&feature=channel_page

Drobiazko/Miller - Carmen
http://www.youtube.com/wa...khME&feature=channel_page

Alferova/Vanagas - Munchausen
http://www.youtube.com/wa...uHsU&feature=channel_page


Laurie

Yikes! It's going to make for a long review, LOL...

I think most of the skaters make most of the tour - the only question will be which and how many celebrities appear and for which dates. Of course, I don't really care about that quite so much as long as the skaters show up.

More from White Crow:

Gordeeva/Beroev - Slow Star
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Navka/Kolganov
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page


Laurie

Thanks, Kasey!

More clips from White Crow:

Totmianina/Marinin - Tango
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Totmianina/Marinin
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Petrova/Tszyu - Once Upon A December
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Babenko/Kostomarov
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Sedokova/Khvalko - I Finally Found Someone
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page



Laurie

This is why I can never be out of town when the broadcast is supposed to start here. Looks like they changed the time to 4:45 p.m. On the plus side, I'm watching the variety show they have on right now (with Larissa Verbitskaya co-hosting, LOL) - got to see Viktoria Dayneko sing. She's still a cutie - and I like her voice.

Laurie

Ice Age Broadcast - January 17th - performances from the live shows at Khodynka in December

First of all, production details again were outstanding. Good camera work, amazing lighting, as always. This was a lightning-fast broadcast - no time for interviews, announcements, judges - just the skating and only the skating, with voice over from the never seen Gomel. Gomel appears to be universally disliked on every Russian forum I visit, LOL, so whatever he says in Russian must be, uh, "interesting" - but I only found him really objectionable in the beginning, when he talked through the entire opening number. But after that, he pretty much just announced the acts as they came out on the ice, and then apparently told us what we saw when they were done, in case we didn't already know. Whatever - the show whipped right along since he was talking over the beginning skating moves and slow-mo replays. It was weird, though, not really seeing anything of Ilya and Marat and Anastasia.

Alexei - skating to "Overcome" in all black - great to see this on my big screen, and exactly from the beginning, complete with the thumbs-up sign from Alexei after Rybka and Ferrari Modena's shout out, LOL. And I'm sure the only reason I caught that on my tape is because I was taping the Atlantic City ticket promo which was on just before it, 'cause usually there's a second of delay after I hit the record button. (Hey, Alexei was in it so I taped it. ) Always a treat to see "Overcome" - the forever perfect blend of skater, music, and theme. And I like the costume, too.

Denkova/Rodriguez - skating to "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. Perky number, nice to see Denkova back on the ice, and Timur definitely plays to a crowd, LOL.

Semenovich/Kolobkov - skating to soft, dreamy music I don't know, a very pretty sky blue dress on Semenovich, and she is expressive, as always.

Lobacheva/Shevelkov - skating to "Nocturne" by Magomaev, Irina in a pretty lavendar satin dress, and with her usual exquisite positions. Lovely!

Strizhenova/Tikhonov - skating to Abba's "Winner Takes It All." Nice song, the dress on Strizhenova was a little too young for her, but it was a likeable, affecting performance by both of them.

Babenko/Kostomarov - skating to something by Magomaev (who seemed to be a very popular singer for the Khodynka performances - he has a great voice, but I personally felt there was a little too much of Magomaev - diversity can be a good thing!). This was a war time theme, very affecting, one of their best.

Drobiazko/Vanagas - new number skating to hip-hop "Yeah," and I swear this sounds a lot like what Anton and Elena skated to a while back. This was good, and I thought the swing-around lift where Povilas is swinging Margarita around by just her skate blades was kinda interesting, but I prefer their more romantic numbers.

Lanskaya/Khvalko - skating to Valeria's song from "Count of Monte Cristo" - gorgeous white dress on Valeria, gorgeous number, period - beautiful skating, and Valeria showing her assurance on the ice, lovely positions - Khvalko is already great.

Arntgolts/Staviski - skating to slow, sad music (might be Magomaev again - don't remember, but I think that's who I thought it was), wildly romantic and beautiful number.

Drobiazko/Miller - skating to "Carmen" - now this is more like it! Margarita in her passionate zone, and Miller certainly keeps up. The tension in this music is the best - that's why "Carmen" is still around, LOL.

Alferova/Vanagas - skating to the soundtrack of "Munchhausen" - romantic, ethereal, the dashing Povilas is perfectly suited for these heroic roles. Alferova was her usual exceptional self. Pretty piano music, too.

Gordeeva/Beroev - skating to "Slow Star" - always a pleasure to see Katia Gordeeva on the ice, even in a plain tank top and jeans, LOL. Throw jump was a little shaky on the landing, but held. Powerful chemistry between these two...Russian tabloids run amok with speculation, which I scoff at, but watching them skate together, you can believe in it.

Navka/Kolganov - skating to Russian rock and roll dance music - lively, fun, sassy performance - best type of number for Navka, I think. And Kolganov seems comfortable with any theme.

Totmianina/Marinin - skating to a tango program, cool horns in the music. Good tension in the music and in the performance. They've kept up their skills - nice throw triple loop, cool overhead lift, double twist.

Now we have the "Time" news program - with no doubt they show the U.S. Airways plane landing in the Hudson River (I refuse to call such a beautiful flying job a "crash" )

Back to the show...

Irina Slutskaya - skating to something I don't know the name of, but it has a vaguely Middle Eastern flavor to it - dancey number in a cut out dress. Irina's kept up her skills, too, LOL - nice triple loop and double axel.

Gordeeva/Beroev - skating to "Tabakiera" - charming performance, with kind of a Victorian tango feel to it. I love Katia's expression in it. A lift looked a little scary on Beroev's part, but no problem.

Navka/Kolganov - skating to what they call the wedding song - another lively, sprightly number - Kolganov is a good match for Navka.

Alferova/Vanagas - skating to dramatic music, dramatic performance. Both of them bring a lot of power to their skating.

Totmianina/Zakoshanski - skating to something light and cute. Zakoshanski has a genial air and Totmianina provided her part with a comical touch.

Drobiazko/Miller - skating to "The Matrix" and dressed in all black. This is one of my favorite programs of theirs - glad to see it again. Palpable, dramatic tension, very cool music. Miller is strong, and he has to be, skating with Margarita.

Totmianina/Marinin - new program - sounds sort of pop bandish. Another good throw triple loop and double twist. Performance had a lot of speed and sureness to it, nice chair lift, very elegant black lacey dress on Totmianina.

Petrova/Tszyu - skating to "Once Upon A December" - glorious music and a cool program to go with it. Tszyu looked a little shaky on a lift, but held firm - he's amazed me with what he's learned through this show. Petrova is obviously a born coach, LOL.

Babenko/Kostomarov - skating to something rousing and dancey, Babenko has excellent carriage for a non-skater.

Sedokova/Khvalko - skating to "I Finally Found Someone" by Bryan Adams and Barbra Streisand. Always happy to hear Streisand! Pleasant number.

Semenovich/Rodriguez - this was kind of a confusing mish-mash - Russian music with a cowboy theme, then switch to break dance music, then back to the Russian music. I never thought the program really came together, but both Semenovich and Rodriguez are charming so they probably get away with it, LOL.

Arntgolts/Staviski - skating to the Scorpions' "Still Loving You." A couple shaky moments where I thought Arntgolts might falter, but Maxim is the glue that holds this couple together, and he showed he is the master. Beautiful, powerful program, nevertheless.

Petrova/Tikhonov - new program, Maria in a very pretty pale rose filmy dress. I don't know the music, but the lyrics are in English, a breathy female vocalist singing about whether she'll ever be free. I don't care if she will ever be free, LOL, because Petrova and Tikhonov definitely are! Wonderful program! Just exquisite lifts, light and soft and fast as can be - you can really see the contrast when Tikhonov skates with his own partner versus Strizhenova. Petrova falls on the throw triple sal, but just to show they can do it, they come right back and do it again after the program is over, LOL.

Navka/Kolganov - skating to a piano instrumental - lovely music. Serious number, performed with emotion.

Alexei and Valeria - skating to "Parisienne Walkways" by Gary Moore. Beautiful sapphire blue/teal dress on Valeria, attractive plum shirt on Alexei. Wonderful, emotional blues music, expressive performance, lovely skating. Also love the hand kiss at the end.

Lobacheva/Shevelkov - skating to "Libertango." Always happy to see Irina in her element. This is an ice dancer. Nice, taught tension maintained throughout the tango.

Brezhneva/Azroyan - pretty music, pretty skaters; it was pleasant to watch.

Gordeeva/Beroev - skating to Tom Jones' "Sex Bomb." Always gotta sing along to this one, LOL. Nice death spiral, chair lift. Fun music, fun program!

Alexei - skating to "Bumbarash." Excellent performance, very musical, very dancey, three triple jumps, cool footwork. And I love the change in tone from happy-go-lucky to poignant after the gunshot. This is a program that Alexei completely immerses himself into, body and soul, which is his way, of course, but it works especially well.

Petrova/Miller - skating to a musical version of "Romeo & Juliet," not a version I'm familiar with. But it's a charming, pretty program. Petrova is good as always and Miller keeps up - he's really one of the more talented celebrities or at least picked up the skating really well. A couple awkward moments, but nothing major.

Strizhenova/Tikhonov - Magameov music again, what I call the illicit lovers program, LOL. I have no idea what the theme really is, but that's how I see it. Sad, romantic, really nice music, and they both played their parts well. (sniff)

Slutskaya/Taranda - their comedic, over the top "Swan Lake." I liked this better this time. I guess I'm finally accepting it, LOL. Or maybe it's because it was a change of pace from most of the other numbers. But probably it's just because I love Irina and she's having so much fun with it.

Friske/Novikov - skating to Madonna's "Erotica" and living the part, LOL. I don't know. I actually really liked this number the first time I saw it, appreciating Zhanna's ability to play the temptress convincingly, as she does all of her roles, and Novikov is convincing, period. This time I was a little irritated and would have preferred to see their lovely waltz instead. Or one of their other, worthier numbers. But I like the music - love Madonna (not as a person so much, but I have always been a fan of her music) - and Novikov is always worthy to watch, LOL. And it was an interesting ending pose.

Alferova/Beroev - two celebs skating together. Why? I guess to show what they learned? Beroev kept the suit coat buttoned up this time so I liked the program better, LOL. I think they both have learned a lot - definitely both of them are perfect examples of just how far the celebs can come in terms of becoming skaters - I just thought it was kind of pointless to have them skate together...(shrug)

Navka/Kostomarov - finally, LOL - skating to serious guitar music, male singer, Navka in a dramatic black cut out dress. I didn't like the singer at all, but the music itself was lovely, very nice. Excellent tension (I see that's my new favorite word tonight, LOL, but I swear it seemed to fit), great to see both of them at full strength instead of being held back by celebrity partners.

No finale, really, just the bows and the skate around the ice, which seemed to give me a feeling that we were a little short-changed. I would have expected more of a production of both the opening number and the finale. Nobody had anything to say but Gomel, LOL?

Altogether, though, it was an excellent broadcast. I never got bored since what we saw was pure skating, one program right after another. And if one performance was less than sterling, chances are the one right after it would be wonderful, and it was. The music, the costumes, the lighting, the skating - first rate!


Laurie